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Morris said the tight end is "experiencing some pain" in his right knee, which has a history of problems going back several years. Winslow, 27, had an offseason surgical procedure on the knee and has been sidelined quite a bit during training camp and subsequent practices. None of that is new, but Winslow clearly is having issues, given his status for the game.

"You know what he does every day to manage his pain and what he does to be able to play," Morris said. "He'll be a game-time decision. But it's Kellen Winslow. It's the same battle we fight. We're talking about the same battle he's been fighting his whole career."

Asked to contrast this week's issues to last year's, Morris said there was no difference.

"He was like that all 16 weeks last year," Morris said. "He was out there and he was practicing or participating, and he did everything he could to get out there and play for us. It worked out well for us."

But this week was different in that Winslow did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. The Bucs suggested that was planned, though the injury report did specify "knee." Going back-to-back days without practicing was not common in 2009, when Winslow played all 16 games.

MORRIS UNAWARE TALIB WATCHED AT RJS: Morris said he did not know on Sunday that CB Aqib Talib watched the Bucs-Browns game from a suite at Raymond James Stadium, a violation of Talib's one-game suspension.

Talib has been cleared to play Sunday as the NFL will not conclude its review of the case until next week.

Suspended players are not permitted to attend games, even as spectators. Talib watched from his suite at RJS, then told reporters Wednesday that he viewed the game on television from his home in Dallas.

"Did I know Aqib was at the game? No. I mean, no, I didn't," Morris said. "It's being handled by the league, it's being handled by us, and that's all I know."

Talib will be assigned to cover Panthers WR Steve Smith. A year ago, he held Smith to one catch for 4 yards.

"He's fired up about that," Morris said. "We're going to go out there and let him (cover) Steve, and he'll have an opportunity to play some thirds and play some man and really stand up. You know, you have to do some things on Steve when you've got those kinds of corners, and he's that kind of guy, so he'll go out there and follow him around for us."